The Today's Headlines section of Indonesia Investments is a regularly updated section which contains the latest information with regard to topics that are currently causing headlines in Indonesia's media. Most of our headlines cover political, economic and social matters. As a consequence of their recent nature, these topics may not have crystallized fully yet and can, therefore, lack a profound analysis. For publications with a more in-depth understanding of subjects, we refer you to our News, Financial or Business columns.
Production of heavy equipment in Indonesia is targeted to grow 14 percent to 4,200 units in 2017, compared to 3,678 produced units in the preceding year. This growth should come on the back of rising activity in the nation's mining sector, particularly Indonesia's coal mining sector, in line with rising commodity prices.
Despite US dollar strength amid promised tax cuts in the USA and looming higher US interest rates, the Indonesian rupiah is not expected to depreciate as much as its Asian counterparts according to the DBS Bank. On Wednesday (01/03) the rupiah weakened 0.19 percent to IDR 13,363 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index). So far this year, however, the rupiah has strengthened nearly one percent against the greenback.
In line with expectations, Indonesia's inflation rate accelerated in February 2017, particularly due to higher prices in the category "housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel". On Tuesday (01/03) Statistics Indonesia announced that Indonesia's annual headline inflation rose to 3.83 percent (y/y), up from 3.49 percent (y/y) in the preceding month. On a monthly basis, Indonesian inflation was recorded at 0.23 percent (m/m), the highest monthly February inflation figure since 2014.
Amid falling output and declining new orders as well as sharply rising input costs, Indonesia's manufacturing activity contracted again in February 2017. The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to a reading of 49.3 in February, sliding from 50.4 in the preceding month (a reading below 50.0 indicates contraction, while a reading above 50.0 points at expansion of the manufacturing sector). Meanwhile, buying levels remained unchanged.
